Adele will play venues throughout Australia in 2017. Photo: Gareth Cattermole

The 27-year-old, who is mother to three-year-old son Angelo with partner Simon Konecki, didn't hold back at her sold-out concert at the O2 Arena in London when she was asked about "breastfeeding mummies" – a topic that provoked the ire of mothers when Oliver suggested last week that it was "easy".

"It's f---ing ridiculous, and all those people who put pressure on us, you can go f--- yourselves, alright?" she said. "Because it's hard. Some of us can't do it. I managed about nine weeks with my boobs (I mean I trip over them – I've got a very good push-up bra). Some of my mates got post-natal depression from the way those midwives were talking. Idiots.

Jamie Oliver, pictured here with wife Jools and their four children, has since apologised for his comments. The pair are expected their fifth child. Photo: Getty Images

"Breastfeed if you can but don't worry, [formula milk] Aptamil's just as good. I mean, I loved it, all I wanted to do was breastfeed and then I couldn't and then I felt like, 'if I was in the jungle now back in the day, my kid would be dead because my milk's gone.'

"It's not funny that's how some of us think," she added.

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Feeling confident after he successfully headed a campaign to introduce a sugar tax on sweetened drinks in the UK, the TV chef appeared on British radio, Leading Britain's Conversation, and said, "We have the worst breastfeeding in the world.

"If you breastfeed for more than six months, women are 50 per cent less likely to get breast cancer. When do you ever hear that? Never.

Oliver, 40, who is expecting his fifth child with wife Jools, has since apologised for the remarks, taking to Twitter to write: "I'm not planning on starting a campaign around breastfeeding".

"It's [breastfeeding] simply an area of interest following my nutritional studies over the last two years. I understand that breastfeeding is often not easy and in some cases not even possible but just wanted to support women who DO woman to breastfeed and make it easier for them to do so.

"As a father – and father-to-be – I would never wish to offend women or mums as I know how incredible they are and I would get a kicking when I got home! Jamie."

WHO recommends new mothers to start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth and a six-month target thereafter.

"Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to six months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with appropriate complementary foods up to two years of age or beyond," it adds.

But some women have problems breastfeeding, including babies not latching on, tongue-tie and painful nipples.

A 2014 study by Cambridge University of over 10,000 mothers found women who wanted to breastfeed but could not were twice as likely to suffer post-natal depression than mothers who used formula as planned.